MaggieMoos Postponed

Hey everyone, weather is going to prohibit doing CONTACT tonight. You're still welcome to visit MaggieMoos, but SRC night is off.

--Ben

MaggieMoos Tonight

Tonight we're conducting a CONTACT survey at MaggieMoos in Severna Park. We figured with such great ice cream there, we might as well invite everyone out and come by for a visit. I'll be taking my family for some ice cream. You can come by any time after 6:00.

--Ben

Concession Stand

Well, today a new experience lies ahead of me. I'll be working the concession stand at the field where Sydney plays soccer. It is the parent's duty to volunteer for one half during the home games. Today is my turn. Of course the rain may relieve me of my duties. We'll see. But if so that'll be the second rain out this week for Syd, and I don't know if she can handle that.

--Ben

Remarkable

They Prayed Together

The bottom line in the book of Acts that I see is that the church prayed together. They prayed, stuff happened. We need to be more intentional about prayer.

--Ben

Running With A Companion

This morning I changed up my run. I took a break from the podcast I usually listen to of a guy who tells me when to run and walk, and changes the music (techno), and today I listened to a sermon by Doug Clay. Now, I know most people would avoid listening to a sermon if they didn't have to, but I'm not most people. I want to get closer to Christ, know more about Him, and live my life differently because of it. He actually had a horribly disjointed message, but some of the things he touched on were challenging.

• In the Luke 19 story of Jesus and Zacheaus. Jesus spoke to Z and knew his name. We're never told how he knew it, but he did. (Similar to knowing about the disciples before he met them.) Jesus knows your name.
• Jesus knew where Z was. At the tree he stopped and turned to speak to Z. Jesus knows where you are.
  

Just a couple thoughts that stuck out to me.

--Ben

Small Group Tonight.

My small group starts tonight. I'm looking forward to it. I get a little agitated when I'm out of a group for too long. I'm looking forward to it. You're welcome too.

--Ben

When In Doubt Throw It Out

I have pack rat disorder. Though not to the degree that others do. I have a tendency to hold onto things much longer than I should.

But while in college I heard the president of my school say, "when in doubt, throw it out." He was referring to the stuff that accumulates. He said that when you're faced with things that you're not sure you'll ever use again, discard it. If it is important enough you'll know that you need it and for what purpose. If it is not important enough you'll wonder. That is when you need to discard it because then you're free of it. Plus, if it turns out to be important you can always replace it.

--Ben

Community Chest

Do you remember in Monopoly there was a group of cards called Community Chest. Well, I've got a new spin on it that I'd like to bring to SRC. During our service we participate in a number of acts of worship: Prayer, Giving, Communion. I'd like to add the Community Chest. A basket with a number of cards in it that have specific acts of kindness and compassion to the community. So during our worship you could go to the Community Chest and select an act of kindness to be done during the week as worship to the Lord. For instance, a card might say,

• "Pray for your neighbor every day this week."
  
• "Buy someones coffee this week."
• "Pick up litter from public grounds."

I think you can get the point. I'm really looking forward to adding it to my worshp, and hope you'll add it to yours.

--Ben

What are some other acts of kindness you think we could add to the Community Chest?

Reflection On Acts 4

I am meditating on one chapter a day through Acts. Today is chapter four. Here are some of my reflections:

• v.4. People are believing and the number of the church is growing to about 5000. 1.) Statistics seemed important to Luke, because he regularly updates the numbers of people. 2.) The audience is a group of people with a jewish mindset. They've been trained from birth to look for a Messiah. They've been under Roman rule for as long as they can remember. They hear that Jesus is the Messiah and they believe. I'm interested as the book progresses to see the evangelism that happens outside of that cultural context. We certainly don't live in a society that is looking for a Messiah of the order of Jesus the Christ.
• v. 13. They took note that these men had been with Jesus. Now, this is a tangible notation. They had actually walked with Him, and been at all the places he was. But I can't help reading that kind of thing and praying that people will take note of me as a person who has been with Jesus.
• The main point of my meditation is to learn what a Spirit-empowered church looks like. I'm praying for fresh vision for our church. We did not start a church to hold service on Sunday. We started a church to affect the spiritual destiny of Maryland. That's what the Acts church was like; its what they did. I want to learn from what they did and do it again at SRC.
  
• v. 24-31. They lifted their voices together in Prayer. Prayer is huge. It repeats over and over in the book of Acts. The church prayed.
• v. 32-35. Is a great picture of what the church should be like. If you get the chance today read through it. I'll post it here for your meditation:

Acts 4:32 - 35 (NIV) All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

Books

Just ordered some books for my Operations Team. This summer I released a little on our leadership development by design. This Fall we start pressing again to build their leadership ability. Can't wait for the discussions that we have together. Looking forward to that. Furthermore, we're going to be doing a leadership retreat for our small group leaders in November, can't wait to get away with our leaders and help them to learn how they can change their world.

--Ben

Small Groups

Our small groups are getting underway this week for the Fall semester. We'll be using a DVD curriculum that works in tandem with my teaching series on Sundays, Nothing's Too Hard For God. I'm looking forward to getting into it. So far we have more Groups than we have filled, so we'll be filing some in with others, but that's a good thing going forward. It means that the infrastructure is being built to reach more people in the future.

--Ben

I Want To Know Jesus

I'm hungry to know Jesus more. I was praying this morning on my run that He would reveal himself to me in a deeper way. A sense of knowing the things that he has set up for me. I think that often we miss opportunities that He has orchestrated. I don't want to miss anymore opportunities.

I'm thankful that the Lord has given us His Holy Spirit to do just that. To build up our faith, and empower us to make more of every opportunity. I think that nothing replaces time spent with Him as an avenue to knowing Him more.

--Ben

What do you do to know Him more? What habits do you find help you connect more deeply with God?

Did Anyone See My Bible? *Updated*

Hey, I found it. No worries.
---

Hey guys, I can't find my Bible. I think I may have left it at the college yesterday. I usually take for granted a bunch of people putting stuff in my bags, but perhaps this got overlooked yesterday. If you know anything about my missing Bible please let me know...

--Ben

Festival

Today I took my family to the Community Festival at Pasadena A/G. I was so proud of the volunteers there. I joked with a couple of deacons that we had planned to only be there an hour, but there was so much stuff to do that we ended up being there three. It was well planned, well run, and a lot of fun. The community there is really blessed, and I know the church there will be as well for their servants heart.

--Ben

Acts

I have jumped into Acts over the last few days. I'm reading it because I want to read the blueprint again. I want our church to be an Acts type church. One thing that is standing out to me in only the first couple chapters is that just about every time you turn from story to story you find the church together in prayer.

I'm trying to dream of ways our church could pray together more. What are your ideas?

--Ben

The Morning That Almost Wasn't

Today is the third Thursday of the month and that means Coaching. I head to Hagerstown on the third Thursday to meet with Patrick Grach so that he can challenge me to build skills, I would not otherwise build. For what it's worth, my personal definition of coaching is, "A coach is someone that makes you do what you don't want to do, to become what you've always wanted to be."

Today I asked for his experience timeline. It is something that we've never done before to go step by step from start to now. As he recounted I would ask questions about the steps that they took, what changed between church at this level that led to church at that level, and so forth. He also used it to show me what lies ahead for us.

It was a great meeting.

--Ben

Nothing's Too Hard For God

I'm looking forward to kicking off this weekend's new series, Nothing's Too Hard For God. I am praying and looking forward to this series being a faith builder for everyone. Sometimes we can believe things in layers, like an onion. The deeper we go, the harder it is to find faith. I'm praying that God will do a new work in us from the inside out. Starting with the core of who we are and working its way out.

We're an outside-in Church, but inside-out followers of Jesus.

--Ben

Home Sweet Home

I got home safe and sound. Before I ended my trip at my house, I headed over to the soccer field and saw my Sydney play a soccer game. I'm so proud of her. She is getting better at the skills. Today she scored 5 goals. So much fun.

--Ben

The Last Day

Today is my last day of class in this program. Usually it is all week, but because of the class size (2) they adjusted the schedule. It has been much more of a mentoring cohort. We discuss the same outline, but we apply it much more against our current ministry. I have to say that 1500 bucks for three days with Dr. Rhoden is money well spent. He has been very inspirational to me, challenged me on some things, encouraged me, and directed me.

It has been kind of reminiscent of 1 Thess 2:8 where Paul says, "I sought not only to share with you the gospel, but my life as well." (BRP)

It has been great.

But I slept horribly last night, and only want to get home to my wife and daughters. I miss them so much.

--Ben

Five Types of People You Can’t Help

People who don’t think they have a problem.

People who think you’re their problem.

People who don’t have the same resolution goal as you.

People who don’t believe the answer is spiritual.

People who want you to invest more in them than they will invest in themselves.

Lunch with the President

I just got back from a luncheon with the president of Valley Forge Christian College. He is always gracious in hosting us. The salad today was delicious. The school has contracted a new food service contractor, and the salad was better than I've had before.

He informed us about a number of exciting things, as he ussually does. It was a great time.

--Ben

Away

This week I'm out of town at Grad School. This is my last course that will take me out of town. It is an abreviated week, so that's good. I'd rather be home enjoying my family and working for SRC. For now, I'll have to settle for brief interactions from two hours away.

--Ben

Back To Church Sunday

It was so great seeing friends at church yesterday that I had not seen in a while. I want to thank everyone who invited someone back to church. It was really exciting.

We also had some first time guests yesterday, and I want to welcome them as well to our family of friends.

I'm really looking forward to next Sunday with Nothing's Too Hard For God. Invite a friend.

--Ben

Just Got Back

So thankful. Today ten volunteers beat the heat and handed out about 1700 door hangers. It was so great to see the teams working together. Our effort put door hangers on many doors that already have had them, and also took us into new territory.

Thanks so much to all our volunteers.

--Ben

I Can See Clearly Now...

The rain is gone. Door Hangers are on for today. OH, it is so ON!!!

--Ben

This Just In

So happy. We just got the door hangers delivered, and they look awesome. They are bigger than what we ussually distribute. But are nice quality. I can't wait to hand them out tomorrow. I'd like to say that we still need more help. The average person can distribute about 75 an hour so far we have 9 signed up on the web. That means by the averages we'll come up about 500 short. I need another 5-6 people to keep the work manageable. Please help us out. Sign up here.

--Ben

Mailers

So many things in the mail these days. This fall, as we get back in the swing of things I'm working harder than ever to keep people on the same page. I wish I had a personal assistant, one of these days...

--Ben

It Doesn't Take Long To Remember

This morning, I stepped out of my house, and remembered that today is September 11th. It's funny, that I didn't even think about the date yesterday. Tomorrow, I'll likely not take time to reflect that it's September 12th. But today is different. A day of remembrance, of reflection on the world and how it changed seven years ago.

Their are still children who live with the loss of moms and dads, still parents that live with the loss of sons and daughters, and all of us live with the loss of brothers and sisters in the American family. I said a prayer today for those who have suffered loss.

--Ben

Still Need Help

I need your help on Saturday for the Door Hanger Day. We have 2500 door hangers to distribute, and I'm looking for at least 25 people to help out. So far I have two. I need your help for three hours Saturday morning. Sign up here.

--Ben

Up Early

Last night I was done around 8:45. After a late night the evening before and getting up at my usual time, I was ready for bed at the same time my daughters were. So I went to sleep. That meant I woke up extra early today. I got out of bed and headed into my day. It has been packed so far, and looks like it is going to be a full day ahead.

I love sleep. Not in the way my wife does. I look at sleep as a part of my health. So it is very important to me. I go to bed when I'm tired and I get up when I wake up, ussually around eight hours. I seldom set the alarm anymore in the morning, and trust my body to tell me when it's been enough.

File that under things you never cared to know about Ben Rainey.

--Ben

How did it go?

Drew commented asking how it went last night so I thought I'd fill in some more gaps. I heard from several people that they thought it was one of the highlights of the night. (We had an agenda that was too long. Seven speakers about five different ministries.) Someone said they should have just let the church planters speak and then one more ministry, but...

We have a group of churches that are on our side and wanting to see us succeed. I shared with them the facts of our church attendance, ministry, and financial position. I shared with them stories of people that I'm seeing accepted and included in the changing landscape that we see at SRC. Mainly I talked about maturity, and how I saw us maturing.

I was also told that I was the only speaker that seemed prepared. I don't know if that is fair or not, but I had prepared and spoke from notes.

So that's pretty much it. I kept my comments to about eight minutes. They prayed for us, and that was that. I saw some pastors today that said they were still praying for us, and have great confidence in what we're doing.

--Ben

Last Night

Last night was the kickoff of the new ministry year for the Eastern Section. The section is a brotherhood of pastors from Elkton to Savage; from Annapolis to Mt. Airy. It's a wide area that centers in Baltimore. As part of the kickoff I was asked to present an update on our church plant. I enjoyed the opportunity.

--Ben

Sectional Address

Tonight I've been asked to share briefly with the pastors of churches from all around the Baltimore Area. I am going to share with them where we are as a church, and where we see ourselves going. I'm going to fill them in on the investment that many of them have made, and appeal to them for support going forward into our third year. We will only receive support for one more year, and tonight I will ask the churches to, starting in January, reduce their gifts to us by half, and end them next December. It is a neccessary step of faith for our church to mature, producing more than we consume.

I dream about the day that we will have paid forward all the monies that were invested in us.

Please pray for me tonight as I address these pastors.

--Ben

Weekend Rearview

The weekend is behind us now, and I wanted to mention a reflection. It is that time of year again, the migration back to church started yesterday, and I think is going to grow stronger in the weeks to come.

Yesterday two things stood out to me as reminders of why I do this. However for the sake of others I can't tell you what they are right now. Perhaps at another time I can. Suffice to say that I saw and heard two things yesterday at SRC, that I would not hear at 90% of other churches, and that's because 90% of other churches are not reaching out to new people. I'd rather reach out. That's why we started this church.

--Ben

Same Page

I had to admit publicly yesterday that I have done a poor job with announcements lately. It's not that I wasn't announcing, it was that I was spending more effort on the urgent, and not on the important.

The urgent thing is Back To Church Sunday, because it is this week. But the important announcements have to do with Door Hanger Day on Saturday, and the new series: Nothing's Too Hard For God.

This week you'll see alot of information trying to turn the tide. We've got to pull through on the important. The urgent will take care of itself.

--Ben

Text Message

Last night around 6 p.m. I got a text from a guy at church. He has come off and on throughout this year, and yesterday was an "on" day. In fact, he not only came, but he brought a friend as well. I always enjoy meeting other people's friends that come to church.

Anyway, the text message just said that he was so excited because his friend really liked the church, and he's looking forward to coming back next week.

Yes, WIN.

He also called me Mr. Ben, woah, age check. It made me realize that I used to hear people say, "You seem so young to be a pastor." I don't hear that as much anymore. :-)

--Ben

Tail Wagging the Dog

This month I think I've blown my vision casting. I mistook the first thing for the most important thing. See Back To Church Sunday is coming up before Nothing's Too Hard For God (NTHFG), so it seems more urgent, but NTHFG is way more important. It is our entire focus this fall. And that's why Door Hanger Day is so important next Saturday. But the Urgency of Back To Church has overshadowed the others.

Readers, I'm asking you to help me out here. Please tell one person about this miscue. Highest Priority is Door Hanger Day. Please Help.

--Ben

Stronger Than The Rain

When it rains like this on a weekend, I often think about a question I heard another pastor ask, "Is my church stronger than a storm?"

The reason he asked was because he had noted that when it rains people don't come to church. Why? Because it's raining? Somehow people were letting something that wouldn't stop them from many things, stop them from attending church. People would go to the mall when it rains, see a movie, eat out at a restaurant, etc. But would they come to church.

Something to think about.

--Ben

The Deluge

The rain started overnight. It was raining on me this morning as I ran. And it kept getting harder and harder. I expect this is going to be some storm. So batten down your hatches!

--Ben

Who's It For?

We are currently redesigning the church's website, and have been throwing this question around, "Who is it for?" It is the essential question when designing a site, because the rest is content. But deciding a publishing content is based on who we expect to come to the site.

We are designing it for the first time visitor. The person who is googling a church in the area. The person who needs an introduction and invitation. We will continue to offer and promote congregation use by maintaining our members side, but the front side is designed for the first timer.

Sometimes when things get jumbled and confused people get that way too. We're trying to avoid that.

--Ben

Nice Day

It's a nice day out there. The temperature has been up this week, but in a cooler kind of way. You know? Like you can feel cooler air behind it. I guess that's just the hope of the season.

Today as I mowed my yard, I had to start bagging the backyard because of the leaves that are starting to fall, just the beginning mind you. I've got a big tree with a LOT of leaves.

--Ben

Coming Soon!

You all know that Back To Church Sunday is coming up on September 14th. And I just wanted to remind you in case you didn't know.

But also on September 13th is a major door hanger effort to advertise our Fall Campaign, "Nothing's Too Hard For God". We have several churches already volunteering groups to come help us. That means that if you're from SRC. I'm expecting you to be there too. Make plans now to be there 9-Lunch on September 13th.

--Ben

Stirred Up

Talking to Noah Kaye today really has got me stirred up. We talked about all kinds of stuff. It is great to have a friend who is going through leadership growth during the same time I am, but in a completely different arena. It's east/west leadership we lead each other from each other's side. So glad to be with him on this journey.

--Ben

Thankful

I'm very thankful for the comment responses to my query yesterday. I got some great insight. And would appreciate more.

Just remember that when this gets off the ground I will need some of you to enroll just to establish the legitimacy of the class. I'll let you know how to do that when the time comes.

--Ben

Rhetoric

I have been watching powerful speeches throughout this presidential campaign from both parties. I find it very interesting the way spoken words resonate within the core values that we hold dear. When that resonation echoes through our mind and touches our soul we often experience emotional responses. I'm not talking about the "applause line" that the crowd knows is a talking point they should rally behind. I'm talking about the conviction of the speaker that meets the thematic touch points of our heart strings. It is moving.

I also find it remarkable how the use of words can move us to agreement with things that we don't really agree with, or support people or agendas that we never meant to support. Public speaking is not just words that communicate logical information. It is motivation through emotional persuasion. It is as beautiful as any art, and as manipulative as we allow it to be.

--Ben

Cool Idea

Yesterday I was talking with an employee at the college about ways that I could serve the college. I had asked months ago whether or not they had a chaplaincy dept. (They don't) But she was asking whatever happened with my inquiry. Then she handed me a catalog, and said, "Why don't you teach a non-credit course?" She seemed confident that if I put together a course in practical theology, that I could get in the catalog.

I thought that was a really cool idea. I'd love to hear what kind of class you think: a. I could teach well, 2. would appeal to the public, and D. that people would pay to come to. What are your thoughts?

--Ben

* Yes, I know that my numbering is wrong, that is a shout out to Buzz, a character in Home Alone the movie.

A lot of Posts

Sorry, I know there's a lot of posts today, but just so much is on my mind. Something came up at the board meeting last night, that I wanted to mention.

Our third year is about to get kicked off, and I see this as a pivotal year for us. It needs to be a year of maturation. Recently we had an issue come up that I talked with many people about in the church, but the decision had to be made by an oversight board at another church. Some SRCers began asking why another board was making decisions that we should make for ourselves.

The fact is that currently we are overseen by the District as a dependant church. We depend on outside churches for 30% of our income. We don't have a staffed governance. So in there eyes we are not ready to be on our own. Thus the requirement of the Oversight board at PAG.

In 2009 I will be pushing for the establishment of our own oversight structure. Leadership to be elected from among the membership to staff these positions. I feel that we have some people emerging that would fill this duty well.

No action is being taken right now other than to let you know that this is what's coming in the months ahead.

--Ben

Running Update

I want to keep you updated on my commitment to run. Of course, as though you needed another blog to check, you could follow my progress at jogjournal.blogspot.com.

I'm in my tenth week of running. It's hard for me to believe that much time has passed, but woot for me keeping it up. The plan that I selected left me behind, so I'm working slower than their schedule. The have the whole thing done two weeks ago. I guess I have a couple hundred reasons why it's taking me longer, but I'm still working on it. I'm at a pace now of two weeks to master every one of their schedule. However, I may need to renege on my public promise of a 5k this fall. The reason is because on my current schedule the Fall will be passed before I'm wher I need to get. So I'm publicly asking for an extension to the early spring. Which I'm actually excited about because the Lord has been showing me some new understanding of spiritual fitness in light of my pursuit of physical fitness. I think a new series is being born in my legs and moving to my heart.

Anyway, from time to time people hear about my workout, and say encouraging things. One guy even showed up to run with me one day. I'm making friends on the bike trail, not that I know their names, but I see them regularly, and I guess I smile at them as much as they smile at me when we recognize each other. It's still hard to get out there, and a lot of fun to celebrate little wins. I'm glad I'm running.

--Ben

Community Festival

I'm very excited about the Community Festival that is coming up at Pasadena A/G church on September 20th. I thought I'd mention it here. Last night the oversight board at PAG passed on the invitation to our congregation to come and enjoy the day with them. I know a ton of volunteer work has gone into this special day, and it will be well worth a visit. I hope to see you there.

--Ben

CONTACT @ AACC

Yesterday I went into the school and started arranging our contract for the fall. While there I inquired about doing CONTACT at AACC. They showed me a table in the cafeteria we can use. We'll be paying for the spot, but I think it'll be worth it to get the exposure to the student body.

If you want to volunteer we'll be doing three shifts per day: morning, afternoon, and evening. I'll let you know more as it is available.

--Ben

Reminder: Back To Church on September 14

Ahhhhh

We are entering my favorite time of year. I love the autumn time. The changing leaves, cooling temps, and above all football season. It's a time of year when everything is made right.

It's also this time of year that we take a step into the ebb and flow of momentum. The fall is a time of flow for those who wonder. Things getting flowing again. Children flow back to school. Adults flow back to higher education. The tempo of offices starts to wind up for the last quarter's earnings. It's definately a time of flow.

I enjoy the flow. My advice? Go with the flow.

Use the flow to propel you where you want to go. Use the structure of this season to organize your life around your priorities.

--Ben

Labor Day

Due to the holiday the Severn River Church offices will be closed. All employees have been given the day off.

--Management